IMG Student Health Advantage Standard Insurance
An annually renewable IMG student medical insurance plan built for international students and exchange scholars studying in the U.S. - with pre-existing condition coverage after 12 months, organized sports coverage, and mental health benefits, all backed by the UnitedHealthcare PPO network.
What Is Student Health Advantage Standard Insurance?
Student Health Advantage Standard is an international student health insurance plan designed by IMG (International Medical Group) for students and scholars taking part in a sponsored study-abroad or exchange program. Unlike short-term visitor plans, this is an annually renewable student medical insurance policy that can stay with a student for up to five years of continuous study - making it a practical option for undergraduates, graduate students, and exchange scholars who need long-term, dependable coverage rather than a plan they must re-shop every semester.
Because U.S. college healthcare costs are notoriously unpredictable - a single ER visit can run into the thousands of dollars - this F1 visa student insurance plan is structured around real student needs: affordable monthly premiums, a school-friendly $5 copay at the student health center, and coverage that extends to a spouse or dependent children traveling on an F2, J2, or M2 visa.
Two features set Student Health Advantage Standard apart from many competing international student medical insurance plans. First, it includes pre-existing condition coverage after a 12-month waiting period - a benefit that budget "visitor" plans typically exclude altogether. Second, it covers mental and nervous disorder treatment and organized sports injuries, both increasingly important as U.S. universities require documented health coverage that addresses student wellbeing, not just emergencies.
F1/F2 international students, J1/J2 exchange visitors, M1/M2 vocational students, and A1/A2 visa holders enrolled in a sponsored study-abroad program in the United States, along with their spouse and dependent children.
Who Is Student Health Advantage Platinum Best Suited For?
Full-time students and scholars who need visa- and university-compliant coverage backed by the UnitedHealthcare PPO network.
Renewable monthly for up to 5 years without a break in coverage - built for bachelor's, master's, or PhD-length programs, not just a single semester.
Schools, exchange programs, and organizations enrolling students together can access Student Health Advantage Group pricing.
Intercollegiate, interscholastic, intramural, and club sports are covered up to $5,000 per injury or illness on both Standard and Platinum.
Students who need maternity coverage or a shorter pre-existing wait right away (the Standard plan doesn't cover maternity at all - consider Student Health Advantage Platinum), or residents of/travelers to Belarus, Russia, Iran, or Ukraine, who aren't eligible under either plan.
What Students Actually Need to Check First?
Why International Students Choose Student Health Advantage Plan
Chronic and pre-existing conditions become eligible for coverage after just 12 months on the plan - rare among budget student health plans.
Campus health center visits cost a flat $5 copay with no deductible - ideal for routine illness, colds, and minor injuries.
Inpatient coverage up to $10,000 and outpatient support, recognizing that student mental health is core healthcare, not an add-on.
Intercollegiate, intramural and club sports injuries are covered up to $5,000, with an optional rider for adventure sports.
Spouses and children traveling on F2, J2, or M2 visas can be added, with a $100,000 dependent medical maximum.
Purchase in terms of 1–12 months and renew continuously for the length of a typical bachelor's or master's program.
Who Is Eligible for Student Health Advantage Standard?
This international student medical insurance plan is available to active participants of a sponsored study-abroad or exchange program, plus their spouse or children traveling with them. To qualify, applicants must meet the following conditions:
- Hold an F1/F2, J1/J2, M1/M2, or A1/A2 visa if the destination country is the United States.
- Be at least 31 days old and under 65 years old.
- Be physically and legally residing in the U.S. with intent to stay at least 30 days at effective date and renewal.
- Not be hospitalized, disabled, pregnant, or HIV-positive on the initial effective date.
How Deductible & Coinsurance Work
The deductible is what a student pays out-of-pocket before the plan starts paying. Student Health Advantage Standard offers a $100 deductible per illness or injury (or a $5 copay per visit at the campus health center, with no deductible applied). After the deductible, coinsurance determines the split between what the plan pays and what the student pays:
Out-of-pocket maximum: $1,000 in-network; up to the policy maximum out-of-network; $0 internationally. Staying in-network keeps costs low and predictable - a tip most students overlook when they first enroll.
What Are the Restrictions of Student Health Advantage Insurance?
Student Health Advantage Standard is not available for residents of Belarus, Russia, Iran, and Ukraine, and is not available for travel to those countries. Coverage is also secondary to any other applicable health insurance, and is not available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
How Much Does Student Health Advantage Standard Insurance Cost Per Month?
Student Health Advantage Standard insurance is available at affordable monthly rates. For students studying in the USA, premiums start at approximately $95 per month and can range up to $262 per month, depending on the student's age, selected policy maximum, and deductible amount.
For students studying abroad outside the USA, the Student Health Advantage Standard plan is available from $73 to $167 per month, with pricing based on the student's age, plan maximum, and deductible chosen. The plan offers up to $500,000 in medical coverage with a $250 deductible option.
The table below illustrates sample monthly rates for the Student Health Advantage Standard plan with a $250 deductible.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Student Health Advantage Standard Insurance
Advantages
8 benefits$500,000 medical maximum, higher than most budget student insurance plans
Meets F1, J1, M1, and A1 visa insurance requirements for international students
Renewable for up to 5 years with no break in coverage, ideal for long-term study abroad
Emergency medical evacuation up to $500,000 and repatriation of remains up to $50,000
In-network care pays 90% up to $1,000 then 100% thereafter with UnitedHealthcare
Mental and nervous disorder coverage plus organized sports coverage included
No coinsurance outside the US and Canada, company pays 100% of eligible expenses
Dependent coverage available for F2, J2, and M2 spouses and children
Disadvantages
6 limitsMonthly premium ranges from $95 to $262, higher than entry-level exchange plans
No maternity coverage, only available on the Platinum tier
12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions, twice as long as Platinum's 6 months
Out-of-network care in the US pays only 80% of eligible expenses up to the policy maximum
Not available to students already pregnant, hospitalized, disabled, or HIV positive at purchase
Not available to residents of, or travelers visiting, Belarus, Russia, Iran, or Ukraine
What Are the Optional Benefits of Student Health Advantage Standard Insurance?
Available up to age 65. Covers activities like skydiving, bungee jumping, whitewater rafting, paragliding, and skiing/snowboarding off-piste when performed under recognized safety guidelines.
1. Ages 0–49: $50,000 max per injury/illness
2. Ages 50–59: $30,000 max per injury/illness
3. Ages 60–64: $15,000 max per injury/illness
Device Protection ensures peace of mind by covering your cell phone against unexpected mishaps while traveling.
Whether you're staying connected with loved ones, using maps, or capturing memories, your phone is essential - and this coverage helps you stay digitally connected even if something goes wrong.
What Are the Benefits of Student Health Advantage Standard Insurance?
| Benefits | In-Network | Out-Network | International |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hospital room & board, ICU, surgery, physician visits | 90% | 80% | 100% |
| Emergency room & outpatient visits | 90% | 80% | 100% |
| Radiology / X-ray & laboratory | 90% | 80% | 100% |
| Emergency room & outpatient visits | 90% | 80% | 100% |
| Prescription drugs (retail, 90-day supply) | 90% | 80% | 100% |
| Physical therapy | 90% | 80% | 100% |
| Student Health Center visit | $5 copay per visit, no deductible | ||
| Mental / nervous disorder (inpatient) | $10,000 maximum | ||
| Mental / nervous disorder (outpatient) | $50/day, $500 maximum | ||
| Intercollegiate / intramural / club sports | $5,000 max per injury or illness | ||
| Emergency local ambulance | Up to $350 | ||
| Emergency medical evacuation | $500,000 maximum | ||
| Repatriation for medical treatment | $100,000 maximum | ||
| Return of mortal remains | $50,000 (or $5,000 cremation/burial) | ||
| Emergency reunion travel | $50,000 lifetime maximum | ||
| Political evacuation & repatriation | $10,000 lifetime maximum | ||
| Accidental death & dismemberment | $25,000 principal sum | ||
| Terrorism coverage | $50,000 maximum | ||
| Emergency dental (injury) | $500 max; sudden pain to natural teeth: $350 max | ||
| Pre-existing conditions | Covered after 12-month waiting period | ||
Student Health Advantage Standard vs. Platinum
| Feature | Student Health Advantage Standard | Student Health Advantage Platinum |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Budget-conscious students, shorter programs | Longer programs, students wanting faster pre-existing coverage |
| Medical maximum | $500,000 | $1,000,000 |
| Deductible | From $100 | From $100 (lower wait for pre-existing) |
| Pre-existing condition wait period | After 12 months waiting period | After 6 months waiting period |
| Local ambulance (inpatient) | Up to $350 | Up to $750 |
| Cost per day | $3 | $9.40 |
| Monthly cost | From $95 | From $282 |
| Explore Plan | View Plan » | View Plan » |
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What Is a PPO Network in Student Health Advantage Standard Insurance?
A PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) network is a group of doctors, hospitals, and clinics contracted to provide care at pre-negotiated, lower rates to insured students.
Inside the United States, Student Health Advantage Standard uses the UnitedHealthcare Options PPO network - one of the largest healthcare networks in the country, giving students access to:
Why Network Choice Matters
Choosing an in-network provider isn't just a formality - it's often the difference between paying 10% coinsurance and 20%. Before a non-emergency visit, students should:
- Search the UnitedHealthcare provider directory for nearby in-network doctors and urgent care clinics.
- Call ahead and confirm the provider currently accepts the UnitedHealthcare Options PPO network.
- Carry a digital or printed ID card - most campus clinics and pharmacies will request it at check-in.
How Do I File a Claim With Student Health Advantage Standard Insurance?
To file a claim with Student Health Advantage Standard Insurance, follow these steps:
Plan Details of Student Health Advantage Standard Student Insurance
The following expenses must always be pre-certified in the U.S. only:
- Certain treatment and supplies including hospital admission, inpatient or outpatient surgery, and other procedures as noted in the certificate wording must be pre certified for medical necessity, which means the insured person or their attending physician must communicate with an IMG representative at the number listed on the IMG ID card prior to admission to a hospital, before receiving certain treatments and supplies or performance of a surgery.
- In case of an emergency admission, the precertification must be made within 48 hours of the admission, or as soon as reasonably possible.
- If a hospital admission or a surgery is not pre certified, eligible claims and expenses will be reduced by 50 percent.
- It is important to note that precertification is only a determination of medical necessity, not an assurance of coverage, verification of benefits, or a guarantee of payment. All medical expenses eligible for reimbursement must be medically necessary and will be paid or reimbursed at usual, reasonable, and customary rates.
- Routine physicals, inoculations, or other examinations or tests conducted when there is no objective indications or impairments in normal health;
- Please refer to the certificate wording for full details of the precertification requirements.
- The insured can begin the process of precertification by logging on to MyIMG Login To MyIMG - International Medical Group imglobal.com or the Client Resources section of imglobal.com. Look for the precertification option and submit the required information.
- Please note that this online service will only initiate the process for treatment and supplies outlined in the contract, and it should not be used to request precertification for emergency admissions, procedures or evacuations.
- Coverage and benefits are subject to the deductible and coinsurance, and all terms of the Certificate of Insurance and Master Policy
- Coverage under this plan is secondary to any other coverage
- Coverage and benefits are for medically necessary, usual, reasonable, and customary charges only
- Charges must be administered or ordered by a physician
- Charges must be incurred during the period of coverage or benefit period
- Claims must be presented to IMG for payment within ninety (90) days from the date the claim was incurred.
IMG Student Health Advantage Standard - FAQs
Why Buy Student Health Advantage Standard Through American Visitor Insurance?
- Easy Quote Comparison: American Visitor Insurance offers user-friendly comparison tools that allow students and international travelers to easily compare Student Health Advantage Standard plan benefits, coverage options, and prices side by side.
- Helpful Educational Resources: Customers can access a wide range of FAQs, forums, and blogs that provide valuable information and guidance, helping them make informed decisions when choosing the most suitable student health insurance plan.
- Support Across Multiple Time Zones: Customer support staff located on both the U.S. East Coast and West Coast provide extended availability to assist customers whenever needed.
- Application Assistance: The support team helps customers navigate the online enrollment process, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free application experience.
- Claims Support: If policyholders need to use their coverage, the team can provide guidance and assistance during the insurance claims process, helping customers understand the required steps and documentation.
- Licensed & Trusted Platform - American Visitor Insurance is a licensed US-based insurance platform (NJ License #1181604).